The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-06
BY the Enforcement OF the Long and
Short Haul clause Of
the Act.
1T WOULD RUIN THEIR TRADE
WITHOUT ANY
COmpensating Benefit TO the Points
on Railroads Whlch Call
Out so Loudly
AGAINST THE DISCRIhINAfIONS
MADE In FAVOR OF CITIES.
Additional Testimony Taken astO the
Difference In Railroad Rates
ut Other Points,

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion met again at the United States
Courtroom yesterday forenoon at 10
o'clock.
Mr.. J. t. Petit, chairman Of the
joint committee OF the Cotton and
Merchants Exchanges, presented the
petition OF the merchants OF Memphis
and asked that Gen. Il. +. Patterson,
a member Of the joint committee, be
allowed TO read 1t, which was granted,
and he read what follows:
PETITION OF THE MERCHANTS OF NKM.
PHIs.
MEMPHIs, Tenn, May 2, 1857.
To tho Honorable Interstate Commerce Com
mission Of the United States;
In the city OF Memphis, in Tonnes
see, there are two organizations, one
known as the Cotton Exchange, the
other az the Merchants Exchange,
and in one or the other OF these asso-
Citations nearly every business man of
the city is member.
On the 22d day OF April, 1887, these
organizations, in view OF your session
in our city, appointed the undersigned
Joint committee to lay before you
such information as 10 the trade and
commerce Of this section OF our coun-
try, and the effect OF the long and
short haul clause OF the law under
which you are organized on this trade
and commerce, as will enable you to
appreciate fully the condition OF this
section and adjudge understandingly
whether this provision of the law be
enforced or suspended.
The city OF Memphis, situated on
the border line Of three States, does
almost exclusively an interstate com.
merce; and was located in view OF
its great natural advantages for the
collecting and distributing central
market OF a great area. Kansas City,
st. Louis and Louisville, each some
400 miles to the north, northwest and
northeast, ard New Orleans the same
distance to the south, are the nearest
rivals we have; nearly half OF Ten
netsee and Alabama, more than half
each OF Arkansas and Mississippi, to-
gether with large portions OF other
States beyond these, depend on our
market for the sale Of their products
and the purchase OF their supplies oil
every kind. These people are inter,
ested equally with the merchants Of
Memphis in maintaining here great
market town where their farm prod
ucts, as we'll as their minerals and
manufactures will command the best
prices, and too, where in return they
can buy near to their places for use,
all the necessaries, and, indeed, lux
uries OF life, In return.
As evidencing the character o! our
trade ss we'll az showing lite volume
we append hereto as exhibits A, b, {
and ID. statements from the records Of
our exchanges of what business We
have done during the past year, and
we make same part OF this petition
Exhibit d comprises not more thar
one-hith OF the aggregate business out
side OF cotton, according to the est
mate of the secretary OF the Merchants
Exchange, estimating our total com
merce, including cotton, at $780, 900,
600.
This ia the largest interior distr.b
ming market OF groceries and pro
visions in the Union, in proportion 4
population. We sell yearly:
OF cotton ...,.,.."..'''.. '.''"toU,UUU,UO
or provisions. .............. 3,494,0i
or grain .''..'" l,UiS,4S
OF dry oods.,......, .."'""" 6,2O7,2O
OF boots and shoea....,."." 2,406,S4
OF cotton seed, oil products 1854, lS
plumber ......... ......"... 248,77
OF fruits. ................. 1917
OF miscellaneous articles, l04 .0Hl GA
Before railway lines were thought o.
M,mphis enjoyed transportation fsoil
ties second to no interior city In tn
Uaion. That great arm OF the set
which we call the Mississippi rivel
reaching with its continents throug
the heart OF every State within fiv
hundred miles and more around on
bluffs, bore on its bosom craft OF ever
kind carrying merchandise and pro
duce from and to every other markC
Of the world.
Inland towns then hauled overlan
TO and from our market, and enjoye
the advantages our position aforde
them, 1t was a benefit to them
have such n market 80 near. TIL
great river ran by our doors, not their
vat conferred on them the advantage
and benefits hardly inferior to those "
enioyed. Our trade then, as now, WI
Wholesale, buying and selling In larG
quantities aud on smaller margi
of profit, while our country neigi
bore, who then hauled to an
from us were then, rs now, Teta
dealers OF smaller quantities, thong
at larger profit, and the cost OF tran
poTtation b tween our market and Il
other great trade cent srs Of the worl
wse also then on a email profit, Il
carriers by water competing betwee
themselves for our exports and In
pcrts, Offering for our full cargo
lower rates tnau they could afford 4
intermediate or way landings and
pocemea shipment; besides; the Q
peuse to our country neighbors, wi
traded with us, OF hauling their pr
duce here and their purchase OF su
niles halk to their stores, was
greater in proportion to the distsn
carried than we paid to the water CT
rlers on the same articles VIII
brought to or carried from Memp!
by the boat load. II was natural q
yan,ages such as these that made o
nkrket, aud when the era Of Iailros
~ an, in order to preserve these &C
az ms in the more rapid transit
the rail, this community expend
about f2,0O0,000 ia aid Of railwG
connecting this city with other pr
eipal markets.
As we understand the charges
the railway lines here, they now a
for all time have been based on
simple idea of Wholesale trade
auenced by the competition OF